david-sarkies I gave this movie a high score not only because it is very anti-American, but it was made at a time where if you were anti-American you could be exiled, or even executed. 1953 was at the height of McCarthyism and the Hollywood Black List. Anything remotely smelling of communism was considered traitorous and a danger to the fulfillment of the American Dream.Suddenly appears Salt of the Earth, a movie where capitalism is attacked and the idea of liberty and truth is spat on. This movie challenges those who watch it to realise that America was not a land of equality and that even in the 1950's there were people living in poverty.The movie is based around a Zinc mine and a Latin-American community. The Mexican's men work in the mine while the women slave away in conditions which are way below the poverty level and the Anglo families who also work in the mine live a much higher lifestyle. There are problems at the mine as well for the Anglo's are treated with respect while the Mexicans are expendable, and as such they decide to strike. When the court orders the miners to cease striking, the women take up the job.When I look at this movie I see a movie that stands up and protests against the lies that enshrouded the Fifties. At this time women's rights were ignored and equality among the people was only something that the white people enjoyed. It wasn't until a few years later that the Negro equal rights movement began, but even then it was equal rights for Negros, and not Mexicans, Indians, or Asians. What this movie does is it attacks the American way of life and shows us that equality is a myth that will never be reached as long as equality remains only among the white people.When this movie was released in 1953 it caused a lot of anger among those who wanted to "protect the American way of life." It was shown in very few cinemas, and those that did were watched by the FBI and anybody who went inside were noted as potential seditioners. It is interesting to note that at that time there were more people searching for communists than there were communists. They say that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance, but I can't help thinking that their eternal vigilance is going in the wrong direction.

popcorninhell Whenever I watch an older movie I always try to realize that they were conceived during a specific period in time; within a continuum that overlaps with history if you will. As a result, the directing, acting, special effects and social attitudes of a specific era can live on in celluloid and seem hokey or even offensive today. Its not always easy to realize this; I can't help but giggle when I witness the special effects in 1940's "Thief of Bagdad," but in the case of "Salt of the Earth" Herbert J. Biberman's masterpiece still remains ahead of its time.The story, based on true events, takes place in a small mining town in New Mexico. The Quintero family live in a small hobble with no running water and a tightening budget. As the patriarch (Juan Chacon) slaves away underground, Esperanza his wife (Rosaura Revueltas) anxiously awaits the birth of yet another child. After a workplace accident (facilitated by a questionable company policy), the miners walk off the job. What starts out as a small, organic labor strike soon turns into an engrossing drama about racial and gender politics.Everything is told from the point-of-view of Esperanza who over the course of the film becomes more deeply involved with the labor union. Her, along with a few key organizers help unite the splintered groups; men and women, Mexican and white miners. This of course is done with the stern disapproval of her husband and many of the men in town.Behind grainy resolution and cheap sets lies unbridled confidence both behind and in-front of the camera. Rosaura Revueltas's voice-over evokes immediate sympathy to the character and her sun-kissed natural beauty shines a bright light in some of the darker moments. Juan Chacon in his first and only film performance also does a fine job. He may not have the acting chops of a seasoned veteran but he nevertheless has a commanding stage presence that is not easily taught. The real treat however is Herbert J. Biberman's direction which brings to mind the best of Jean Renoir's American films but with a touch of Godard. In one intense scene, he smash-cuts between two pivotal moments creating a palpable tension that sent my heart fluttering.At the height of the Red Scare, this unabashedly pro-union film became a source of much controversy when it was released, comprising of many progressive and blacklisted actors, writers and producers. Produced on a minimal budget, the film was only exhibited once before being blackballed for over a decade finally finding an audience within the burgeoning counterculture. In today's social and political climate "Salt of the Earth" remains as salient as ever. Occupy Wall Street could learn a lesson from Esperanza. We all could.http://theyservepopcorninhell.blogspot.com/

MartinHafer This film was produced by the United Mine Workers union. Apparently, it's the only American film to be blacklisted and was made by many blacklisted folks. It's amazing, really, as the film is NOT pro-communist (at least not overtly) and has to do with problems people of all political persuasions would agree are wrong. While this might have been controversial in its day, today the film just seems very inspiring and well worth seeing."Salt of the Earth" is set in the small town of San Marcos—a community in New Mexico inhabited by Hispanic-Americans who work in the mine--and is based on an actual strike. It's very unusual in that it's told more from the point of view of the workers' wives—and it's narrated by her ('Esperanza'--Rosaura Revueltas). Much of film is in Spanish but enough is in English that viewers should have no trouble understanding.The film focuses on a group of workers who have had enough—particularly in regard to serious safety problems in the mines. In addition, company stores, poor sanitation and general discrimination against Hispanics all resulted in this walkout strike. Once this strike began, it became obvious that the police were in the pockets of the owners and were used as instruments to try to intimidate and break up the union. In particular, the beating of Ramon and birth of child is very compelling scene that illustrates this alliance.After many months, the strike has continued and the women begin to assert themselves. While the husbands are very traditional and sexist, the women begin demanding better sanitation and even begin to walk the picket lines once the men are court-ordered to stop picketing. Will these folks be able to wait out the mine owners? The film is an incredibly sensitive and compelling film that humanizes the workers and familiarizes the viewer with their plight. I was not surprised to see Will Geer in a role as the sheriff, as he had a long history of union and leftist politics—this is not a criticism—just an observation. Overall, an incredibly well-made film considering that it mostly uses normal folks and not actors. It also is one of the most pro-feminist films of the era--and very compelling throughout. Well worth seeing...and this is coming from a guy who politically is relatively far to the right on many issues. A great portrait of some very brave Americans.

Emil Bakkum There is nothing fancy about this film. It just tells a story that has to be told. The events are based on a true labor dispute, halfway the twentieth century, between American miners and the trust that controls their mine (among many others). It is docudrama, using realism, and consequently what you get is what you see. This seems a good choice, considering that there are already too much ambiguous films about trade unions (for example, On the Waterfront, or the various Hoffa interpretations). There is little action, and the film shots are sober, but the suffering of the people guarantees that you remain focused (if you have empathy). Interestingly a part of the characters play themselves. The miners feel that their wages are unfair and decide to strike (with support of their union). The situation is particularly tense, since the miners are of Latin-American origin, and are discriminated by the mining company. Naturally the miners form a picket line in order to stop scabs, and they succeed in this intention. The company decides to begin a war of attrition, and the miners have a hard time, in particular since the local sheriff takes side with the bosses. If we may believe the film story, the police officers are not too lazy to harass the strikers and lock them up. It seems as thought the strike is lost, when the court rules that the picket line is illegal. But then the wives of the miners step in, and take over the picketing. After many months the trust finally caves in. At last a strike with a happy ending!